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Michele Bensen

Pittsburgh Living Jazz Legend & Pittsburgh Jazz Hall of Fame Vocalist

About Me

Michele Bensen Short Bio (2015) updated Jazz vocalist, Michele Bensen has performed at NYC’s old and new Duplex, Upstairs @ Greenstreet, aside from many jazz venues in the Pittsburgh and tri-state area. She has opened for comedians, Angela Scott, Mario Joyner, Joy Bahar, Mike King, Kevin Meany and comedy writer, Maxine Lapiduss. Bensen has been the opening act for Tony Bennett, The Four Freshmen, Lionel Hampton, Diane Schurr, John Blake, Jane Ira Bloom and Herbie Mann as well as being the headline act with her own band, “The Bensen Burners”. She has been in concert with national musicians; Bob Alberti, Ben Tucker, Keter Betts, Carl Fontana, Harry Allen, Dave Pike and Peter Appleyard. Ms. Bensen performed at Hard Hearted Hannah’s Jazz Club in Savannah, GA for several years with bassist, Ben Tucker and pianist Joe Jones. She’s been the headliner at many Hilton Head Jazz Society Concerts and the nationally known “Jazz Corner” Jazz club in Hilton Head. More than 30 million children hear her as the voice of “Sara Bear” on the children’s “Sticky Bear” software. Her radio voiceover work includes a national commercial for “A Drug Free America”. She was a featured artist, along with jazz vocalist Mark Murphy and blues man Billy Price on The Balcony Big Band’s “Seasoned To Taste” CD. Her CD, “At Last” which features the Pittsburgh based Bensen Burner Band, with Mark Strickland / guitar, Robbie Klein / sax & flute, Steve Trettel / drums, Herb Marshall / bass & trombone, Keith Stebler / piano was recorded on Hilton Head Island, S.C. in 1999. Michele’s newly released in 2013 CD “Moments Like This” was also recorded in Hilton Head, SC with nationally acclaimed pianist Bob Alberti and the late bassist, Ben Tucker. This recording was arranged by Bob Alberti, a highly anticipated “Live” recording. www.cdbaby.com/cd/michelebensenbobalberti and also available at http://www.amazon.com/Moments-Like-Michele-Bensen- Alberti/dp/B00H8KG79S/ref=tmm_msc_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8- 1&qid=1418869163 Michele and her Pittsburgh pianist, Chris Pangikas released a holiday recording done in Pittsburgh in 2007, ”It’s That Time Of Year” http://www.amazon.com/That-Michele- Bensen-Chris-Pangikas/dp/B00GICPB3A , with all arrangements by Chris and Michele. Bensen and Pangikas are a dynamic music duo in the tri-state area jazz scene and are mainstays at several established restaurants and nightclubs. Michele also continues to perform with her Bensen Burner Band. Enjoy The Jazzy “Lush Life” & Career Of Vocalist Michele Bensen at http://michelebensen.wordpress.com/ HONORS AND AWARDS Michele won the 1988 “Backstage Best Bistro Vocalist’ award from NYC’s Backstage critic, Bob Harrington. Named “Best Vocalist” by “In Pittsburgh Magazine” for 3 consecutive years In August of 2009, Michele was inducted into “The Pittsburgh Jazz Hall of Fame” by the Pittsburgh Jazz Society. The 2009 Walt Harper “All That Jazz” awards by Black Talk Magazine of Pittsburgh also honored Michele. On Sept 28, 2013, Michele Bensen was given the Pittsburgh LIVING JAZZ LEGEND Honor by The Manchester Craftsman Guild of Pittsburgh. She is the first of two women to be given this very auspicious honor. On January 14, 2014 a Certificate of Recognition was awarded to Michele Bensen Allegheny County Council is proud to present this Certificate of Recognition to Ms .Michele Bensen for her contribution to The Pittsburgh's Legendary Community of Jazz on January 14, 2014. Presented by The Honorable William Russell Robinson Council District 10 On Sept. 8, 2014, Michele just received the first “Maxine Sullivan” award for Jazz Vocalist during the first “Homestead Jazz, Blues & Arts Festival” Michele’s band, “The Bensen Burner Band” members are originals, Robbie Klein on sax & flute and Steve Trettel on drums. They both recorded on Michele’s first CD in Hilton Head, S.C. Also featured in the band are, bassist Mike Houlis and jazz pianist, Ms.Donna Davis who is carrying on the Pittsburgh tradition of female jazz pianists such as Mary Lou Williams and Geri Allen. And last but not least, the extraordinarily gifted guitarist from the “Catch 22” jazz guitar group from Duquesne University, Ken Karsh. http://www.duq.edu/academics/faculty/kenneth-karsh Bob Alberti, Pianist, Arranger, Conductor, Sun City, South Carolina http://bobalberti.com/ “Michele is a joy to hear and a pianist’s dream to play for. She makes an accompanist’s day!” Frank Military, Warner/Chappel Music, Inc. Senior VP NY, “I think this is the greatest new jazz singer to come along in many years and will be around for the new millennium and thereafter. This is an outstanding CD, “At Last”. 1999 Joe Negri, Guitarist on “The Mr. Roger’s Show”, “Michele is a joy to work with and a joy to listen to, too!” Ben Tucker, Bassist, Composer, Owner of Hard Hearted Hannah’s & WLVH/101.1 FM Savannah, GA “It’s not often that you find an audience that becomes thrilled and excited to hear and see a performer such as Michele Bensen. She becomes electrifying and very brilliant in her performance, whether she is singing the blues, a ballad or a Broadway composition. She’s always on the money! She puts herself in the middle of it, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually. Michele is it when it comes to singing.” Ann Butler, writer Pgh. Post Gazette ”When Michele sings, people do far more than listen -- they feel, they move, they become immersed in her crystal clear sound and bask in the expressive energy of her voice. It's a voice that time and again has brought audiences to their feet reveling in her spirit. Bensen communicates to her audiences; she can make you laugh and she can make you cry. It comes from her heart.”